Hello. I am thinking of taking the leap and possibly creating a Facebook account, but first have lots of questions that I am hoping some of you social media gurus can answer... 
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"If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." -Yoda, Jedi Master
listen to Yoda..
My parents have been on and off Facebook many more times than i have... I've have more self control... Facebook account closed, and stayed that way ever since, no regrets.
The biggest challengee is telling your friends you are leaving social sites..
My parents have been on and off Facebook many more times than i have... I've have more self control... Facebook account closed, and stayed that way ever since, no regrets.
The biggest challengee is telling your friends you are leaving social sites..
*LMAO*
Trust me, I have been pondering this for a whole month!!
(Well, it's sorta too late, because I lost my mobile virginity today, and got a SIM card for my iPhone to try and unlock my flipping Twitter account that I set up a month ago...)
So here is the deal with this thread, and the reason for "selling my soul"...
I am starting a business, and part of it includes being a journalist, writing about things going on in my industry.
And over the last 3-4 months, I have determined the hard way, that no one responds to phone calls, or emails, or even hand-delivered correspondence anymore?! (I must concur that "if you aren't on social media then you don't exist!)
So, the plan was to create a Twitter and Facebook account, not so I can be a dope and ramble all day long, but rather so I have a more efficient way to reach out to strangers with the hopes of landing interviews.
Having had my head in the sand with social media for like 20 years, I don't have a clue about it.
I went to create a Facebook account earlier for my business, and just as I was going to click "Create Account", I saw a link below that said, "If you are a movie star or own a business..." or something like that.
Then I did a quick Google, and found some blog that said I need to create a personal Facebook "profile" and then create a business Facebook "page"?
My hope was to just create an "ACME, Inc" Facebook account so that it remains *business* based and leaves my personal stuff out of it.
And that is what I need help better understanding...
When I created my Twtter account, I just used "ACME, Inc" and didn't have to provide any eprsonal data. I guess Facebook isn't so simple?
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listen to Yoda..
*LMAO* I know... I know...
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Don't listen to everybody else on here that insists on pushing you as far away from Facebook as possible. Your plan is to use it for business purposes and there is nothing wrong with that. Regardless of Facebook's track record with privacy opening up a business page on their platform is always a good idea to get your business exposure.
To answer your question: you cannot create a new Facebook business page unless there is a personal account attached to it. The reason for this is because Facebook requires all business pages to have an administrator who can manage the page and assign roles to other individuals in a company for other admins and contributors.
@vidjahgamz,
Thanks for the reply.
Well, I agree that Facebook is "dirty" - from my perspective - but I have also come to the conclusion that in many cases it is the ONLY way that I'd be able to find someone or contact someone as a journalist.
Since Facebook is requiring me to create a personal account, that makes things trickier for me...
I will NOT give out my real name/real identity to Facebook. Ever.
So how can I get around this constraint, make Facebook happy, yet remain anonymous as a person?
I have nearly 100 domain names for my business - to protect my intellectual property - and for the WhoIs details and contact, I simply put "Domain Manager" as the name for my company "ACME, Inc."
Could I do something like that with FB?
There is no intent on my end to do anything bad, but there is also no way in hell that I would ever associate my name and my identity with a social media account, because I try to stay "off the grid" as much as possible!
What's the workaround here?
Hmm. Good question and I understand your dilemma.
I would say you could probably create a pseudonym personal account. You don't necessarily need your personal account to be associated with your legal name. People do this all the time and it is not against any Facebook policies. As long as you're not impersonating somebody else it is perfectly acceptable and well within their guidelines.
Probably your best option in my honest opinion.
Hmm. Good question and I understand your dilemma.
I would say you could probably create a pseudonym personal account. You don't necessarily need your personal account to be associated with your legal name. People do this all the time and it is not against any Facebook policies. As long as you're not impersonating somebody else it is perfectly acceptable and well within their guidelines.
Probably your best option in my honest opinion.
What kinds of deatils do I have to give out to create a personal Facebook account?
I guess they want a "Firs name" and "Last name", right?
What other details?
So it sounds like I need to be like a rockstar and create a "stage name" so I can keep my anonymity?
To create a personal account you need the following details:
First Name
Last Name
Mobile Phone Number OR E-mail Address
Password
Birthday
Gender
All of these details can be fabricated, of course.
And yes -- a stage name would be another term for it. I understand your need to maintain your anonymity.
Am I going to run into a problem where I need a unique name?
I was sorta set on "Cary Grant"! ;-)
Can I use the same business email address for my personal Facebook account and my business Facebook account?
True.
And yes -- a stage name would be another term for it. I understand your need to maintain your anonymity.
You know, I have been debating if I should create a "stage name" for myself in the past.
I wonder if I should do that for my business, and so when I'm a columnist online, I have that privacy.
Also, one of my dreams is to create an online radio station, so I could use it there when I'm a DJ.
But then I think that I should brand myself as myself, so I don't know.
However for Facebook, I think I need to become someone else to protect myself...
No. You shouldn’t require a unique name since people all over the world have the same name.
Yes you should be able to use the same e-mail address.
I’m loving your aspirations! I definitely recommend creating some sort of stage name.
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Very true.
Okay, that would be a big help! That way I can keep things centralized in one email account, and I won't have to give out my real name or my personal email address.
I’m loving your aspirations! I definitely recommend creating some sort of stage name.
Ha ha.
Geesh. Yet another think I have to figure out for my business?!
Thanks for the help!
That wasn't good enough for me back in early 2017. I found a browser addon and used it to wipe every post, photo and thing I could before closing my account. And then I went and stripped out all my personal data. Finally, I did some Google digging and found a link to force Facebook to actually DELETE my account (versus just keeping it stored).
If you just close it, they store it in perpetuity. The moment you return, all that data comes right back - which means they always have it.
I had to get off FB. It was becoming an echo chamber and the friends I had were forming into two camps. Dissent or opposing opinions were causing rifts and no one was listening to anything other than what they wanted to hear. It got toxic real fast.
Good reminder about Facebook - and most large companies!!
That is why I have never been on social media. But my dimemma is that a significant portion of the population is only accessible via social media. So if my job is to contact people for interviews as a cub reporter, then I don't see any other options in the modern world.
That, and so many videos and screen-captures happen on Twitter, that that is your only way to get tips on breaking news.
So if I sign up for a (personal) Facebook profile, and then I create a (business) Facebook page, and I make up the Name, DOB, etc and I just use my business email address which is first_name@mydomain.com then am i reseanably safe from a privacy standpoint??
I'm still on Twitter (not my original account) but that's used simply to contact support for my carrier and I don't login to it otherwise. If you're using FB in that manner and you restrict who can see what, it's about all you can do.
Unfortunately, I can't really answer your question. I've been off FB for 3.5 years now and in that time they've had more than one data scandal. Things have changed.
I’ll need to experiment with this on business pages I administer, but I believe the admin’s info is linked to the page. If you use a made up name, visitors may be suspicious.
Hello. I am thinking of taking the leap and possibly creating a Facebook account, but first have lots of questions that I am hoping some of you social media gurus can answer...
It’s certainly possible to create a FB account using a fake name, but Facebook also have the ability at anytime to ask you for proof of identity.
If your business pages rely on you having this account you may be faced with the very real possibility that you’ll be kicked off Facebook along with your business page if asked for this proof but refuse to provide it.
In addition, do not think for even a nanosecond that Facebook won’t start finding out everything about you and your business from the moment you create your account.
They’ve mastered the art of data extraction and analysis. From the first instant you give them anything tangible about you they’re already using it to create a total picture of who you are, and where you work.
They probably have some sort of profile on you already if any of your friends etc. have had any sort of connection to Facebook.
Just know that, given your previously stated desire for privacy, creating a Facebook account could be the worst decision you can make, and diametric to your desires.
@TiggrToo,
Thanks for the advice. Yeah, I seem to already be in a dark place...
That Twitter account I set up 5 weeks ago?
I'm still locked out of it, and now it is "Suspended" even though I've never been able to use it?!
And breaking down and getting rid of my AT&T hotspot so I could upgrade to my first-ever mobile plan so I can now get security codes whenc reating things like Twitter accounts?
Useless.
If my Twitter account doesn't get fixed I'm feeling like I just got raped...
As far as Facebook goes, for my needs as a journalist, it's probably better to just create a personal account using some pseudonym with no business Facebook page, and if my personal Facebook profile gets locked out, so be it.
I agree that I need to be very cautious playing with fire with companies like Facebook...
This entire endeavor is really turning out no-so-great so far.
I sure hope I can get my Twitter account straightened out, because that is almost a must as a journalist in 2020!